Norma Jean Grotz

WICHITA – Norma Jean Grotz was called home by our Heavenly Father on May 6th, 2025. 

She was the only child of John L. Prochaska and Dora E. (Beck) Prochaska and grew up on their family farm in Mitchell County, Kansas.  Jean attended the Coursen Grove local school, Simpson High School and Kansas Wesleyan University.  Jean also attended churches in places where she was living, and it was important to her that her children were raised in a Christian environment.

Norma Jean married James (Jim) William Adams on August 28th, 1951.  Together they purchased the “home quarter” near their roots, and started a family of their own.  Service to the Air Force took Jean and Jim to Mississippi, Texas and New Mexico for a couple of years, then the young couple returned to Kansas with two children, and added three more.  Jean was a selfless, loving mother who had her first four children in 4½ years, and while juggling changing diapers and feeding the young’uns, milked the cow twice daily and raised a garden.  She enjoyed spending time with her children making jams, preserves and pies from the fresh fruit of her grandfather’s place, homemade pickles and vegetables and of course her favorite strawberry-rhubarb pie from the garden and butter from the milk.  She taught her children many of these competencies and more, and the importance of family participation.  Meals were always together, and the children were responsible for setting the table, clearing the table and washing, drying and putting away all of the dishes.

In the late ‘60s, the family moved away from the home place to Minneapolis, KS, Kingman, KS then Concordia, Ks.  Jean worked in administrative positions at the hospitals in Kingman and Concordia, and for several years in the Farmers Home Administration in Concordia.  In addition, she purchased a house in Concordia, fixed it up and managed it as a rental property. 

After her husband Jim passed away in 1983, she moved to Beloit close to where her mother was living.  She volunteered for the Red Cross where she travelled to places like North Carolina to help in disaster recovery.  She took up stained glass as a hobby and produced many fabulous stained glasswork pieces that are cherished by family and friends today.  She also enjoyed needle crafts and sewing.  She made designs on kitchen towels and quilted blankets for her children and grandchildren.  She enjoyed travelling, often to places her children were living including the states of Washington, California, Arizona, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana, as well as Germany.  She married Al Eilert of Beloit who accompanied her on some of the aforementioned trips as well as many activities around Beloit.  After Al perished in a house fire, Jean was left widowed a second time.  After some time, she accepted the proposal of marriage from Frank Grotz of Beloit.  They also enjoyed travelling, such as a trip to take a train ride through parts of Canada where they were temporarily stranded on September 11th, 2001, and had to improvise to get back home.

After Jean’s mother passed away in 2010, she and Frank moved to Wichita to be closer to her two daughters and their families.  In her retirement years she enjoyed doing jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzles and word search.  She kept a stationary bicycle in her apartment and would read books while exercising as recent as this year.

Jean was preceded in death by: John L. Prochaska and Dora E. Prochaska, parents, of Beloit, KS; James William Adams, husband, of Concordia, KS; Marjorie Cobine and husband John, sister-in-law and brother-in-law, of Kansas City, MO; James Denny, brother-in-law, of Kansas City, MO; David Emmot, nephew, of Salina, KS; William Christopher Adams, son, of Redding, CA; Stacy Hicks, granddaughter, of Chickasha, OK; Al Eilert, husband, of Beloit, KS; 

Jean is survived by: Deborah Kay Parkins and husband Steve, daughter and son-in-law, of Wichita, KS; Dale Hicks and Jennifer Pottinger, grandson and partner, of Kansas City, KS; and granddaughter Regan Pottinger;  Angela Draper and Chelsea Draper, granddaughter and spouse, of Wichita, KS; Gary Linn Adams and Mary Adams, son and daughter-in-law, of Nipomo, CA; Ryan Adams and Heidi Adams, grandson and spouse, of Paso Robles, CA; and great grandchildren Adilyn, Stella, and Maximus; Brad Adams and Marissa Adams, grandson and spouse, of Nipomo, CA; and great grandchildren Samantha, Connor and Derek; Dani McGarvin and Brad McGarvin, granddaughter and spouse, of Redding, CA; and great grandchildren Brody, Kenley and Blake; Richard Ray Adams and Marcia Adams, son and daughter-in-law, of Spring Branch, TX; Melinda Adams and Curtis Bell, granddaughter and partner, of Waco, TX;  Stephen Ogles and Alyssa Ogles, Grandson and spouse, of Houston, TX; and great grandchildren Emerson and Wren;  Jaclyn Ward and Charles Ward, III, granddaughter and spouse, of McKinney, TX; and great grandchildren Lily and Owen; Cindy Jo Kennedy and Dean Kennedy, daughter and spouse, of Wichita, KS;  Corey Drew Kennedy and Nicole Kennedy, grandson and spouse, of Wichita, KS; and great grandchildren Dora, Logan, Peyton and Peter;  Ashley Schmidt and Steven Schmidt, granddaughter and spouse, of Wichita, KS; and great grandchildren T.J., Kayden, Zia and Maleigha; Brett Kennedy, grandson, of Wichita, KS.

The family has chosen Good Shephard Hospice for any memorials given.  One may donate thru the following link https://www.goodshepherdhospice.com/donationform/

A virtual memorial service will be held on June 22nd at 3:00 pm CDT.  Any who wish to join in may do so at https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87300761376?pwd=NGGmIsASH0aIqk5gyKIb5m0IRGtyN7.1
Joining local family at daughter, Cindy’s house, in Wichita for the memorial is also an option.

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